Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six (30 page)

Andie’s fingers trembled as she searched for herself and Cade on the internet. Sure enough, she was there in the Hollywood Cemetery, or rather it was a grainy image, thank goodness for the dark. But the implications were clear.

She had her head in Cade’s lap, tenting up from under the beach towel. Her mouth and his groin were blurred out. At least that was the saving grace, but the caption spilled it out.

Star quarterback getting ahead?

Cade Prescott flashed a flaming redhead cowering under cover at the Pet Sematary screening while his baby was being born prematurely at the hospital. What’s with that?

Andie turned off her phone and retired to the ladies’ room. She looked like a total and complete slut. And it was all her fault. Cade had tried to stop her, but of course, she’d seized the fucking moment and went for it.

The bathroom door thumped as a horde of chattering females entered. Andie shut the door of a stall just in time to avoid her coworkers.

“Can you believe Mr. Silver signed her?” Jill, one of the copy editors, said. “She has no acting ability whatsoever.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Sylvia replied. “The entire internet’s buzzing about her, and Mr. Silver’s a genius at exploiting free publicity.”

“True, that,” another voice, Monica who worked in production, said. “Especially since we signed her husband. I mean, the ink’s not dried on the divorce papers, and I’m sure she hasn’t filed it yet. Doesn’t she have to wait six months before the divorce is final?”

“Oh, yeah, anything can happen, and hopefully we’ll have the first part of the series ready,” Kim, one of the marketing ladies, chipped in. “Imagine the hay we can make with the scandal.”

All the women laughed and giggled.

“She’s got some balls to be sucking him off in public.”

“Oh, yeah, this is bigger than any Kardashian wardrobe disaster. I actually admire her. I wish I had the guts.”

“Or the stupidity,” Jill huffed. “I’ve always wondered about those quiet librarian types.”

“Aren’t you one of those quiet librarians?” Sylvia asked.

“Uh, no. Hipster, big difference,” Jill said. “I would never parade around in those stupid power suits. She really needs a wardrobe update. I don’t see what that Cade Prescott sees in her.”

“Bet you wish you got your mouth around that big stick.” Monica guffawed. “I say, more power to her.”

“Yep,” Sylvia agreed. “Especially if she can handle Cade Prescott’s huge appetite. Remember the night of the Super Bowl? He had Candy, Trina, and Belinda all at the same time. Gave them gifts and goodies. He’s a real gentleman.”

“Have you ever done him?” Kim’s voice was sparked with curiosity.

“I wish,” Sylvia said. “But Andie’s a friend of mine. Besides, ever since he came back from New York and found out Roxanne was pregnant, he dropped out of the party scene.”

“Big loss, oh well.” Kim sighed. “Gotta get back to work. We have to redo the movie posters and add Andie. Lucky she’s just a maid-servant, otherwise, she’d have to lose twenty pounds. As it is, it’ll take my awesome photoshopping skills to fit her in the background.”

Photoshopping? Andie pinched her upper thighs. She wasn’t that curvy, was she? Sure, she wasn’t model thin, but darn it all, at least her ribs didn’t show, unlike other actresses who walked around like concentration camp victims in bikinis.

She snuck out of the restroom after her coworkers cleared out. What could she do and where could she go? By now, everyone who knew her had seen the photo or had heard about it.

Her stomach heaved with nausea as she slunk out the side door. A group of guys were standing outside near the ashtray, having a smoke. They stopped chatting and stared at her, their mouths curved with knowing grins.

Andie turned on her heels and headed for the parking garage. She couldn’t face anyone, least of all Cade, now that the entire world knew what a slut she was.

“Hey, Andie, you headed out for lunch?” Scriptwriter Leroy Chan hurried toward her. Today he was dressed in the green fatigues of an Israeli soldier, complete with ammo belt and canteen.

“I’m not feeling good. Think I’ll take the rest of the day off.”

“Hey, don’t sweat it.” He chewed on his lower lip. “I know what’s going on. It’s all everyone’s talking about, but trust me, it’ll blow over in a day or two.”

“Not for me, it won’t.” Andie groaned as she extracted the car keys. “I can never go home to Itasca. My mother doesn’t even want me anymore. Small towns have long memories, and I’ve embarrassed my parents.”

“I’m sorry.” He folded his arms and regarded her steadily. “Are you coming back to work tomorrow? We still need to do research on servant master relationships in the time of King David, especially now that you’re playing the part of a concubine.”

“I don’t know if I can do it anymore. I’m so confused. I only came out to California to help my family, and now my parents are turned against me and my dad’s depressed again.”

Leroy patted her shoulder. “They’ll be proud of you once the movie comes out. We’re thinking of rewriting everything from your point of view. You know, the humble serving girl who knew the man before he became great. You’d be in the perfect position to retell his story since you’ll be in the background and no one worries about what you’ve seen or heard.”

Andie’s stomach twisted. This was exactly what she’d always wanted, to be the fly on the wall wherever King David was concerned. This was her golden opportunity to rewrite the script and relive the story of David and his lovers.

But she couldn’t face anyone. Not her parents. Not Cade’s mother, not any of her coworkers. Oh, no. Even worse. Roxanne had to be feeling way superior to her right now. Even though she partied hard and had an active social life, she’d never been stupid enough to be caught on camera.

Andie unlocked the car Cade let her drive. “See ya, Leroy. I’ll text you later. Right now, I need to be alone.”

A few minutes later, she turned down Cade’s street, but stomped on the brakes at what was blocking the road. Reporters had set up a news van in front of his house. A cameraman and a news crew milled around the gate where the two dogs were barking up a storm.

There was no way she could get past them without being swarmed. Oh no, they’d spotted her. A reporter tapped the camera man and the entire horde marched toward her.

Andie tried to do a U-turn, but the street was too narrow. The fastest reporter reached her car window and tapped on the glass. Meanwhile a camera lens pressed against the windshield.

Andie put the car in reverse and tried to back up, but people were behind her.

The tapping and shouting surrounded her. Sweat prickled her face, and her pulse thundered through her veins. Her breath came in panicked gasps and every muscle in her body spasmed.

She stepped on the gas and the car spurted back. Had she hit someone? Hopefully not.

Putting the car into drive, she depressed the horn and drove the car over the curb to turn it around. The cameraman with the long lens on her windshield fell onto his butt, and the reporters jumped out of the way, shouting and shaking their mics.

Something crunched under her tires as she completed the turn. What was it? Her heart was thudding like a pounding bass drum. Had she run over someone? Should she stop?

Before turning from Cade’s street, she glanced in the rear view mirror. A few of the reporters were jumping into their cars to chase her. The cameraman was being helped up, so he was okay.

The sound of sirens wailed, approaching her. Shit. She was going to be arrested for reckless driving. At least no one was hurt, but she wasn’t going to stick around to be questioned.

Gunning the engine, Andie tore out of the neighborhood, right past the police cars going the opposite direction. Her tires screeching, she caught the first freeway entrance she saw.

“You better get over here,” Cade’s mother said on the phone. “There are policemen out front. They’re pounding on the door, but I’m not letting them in.”

“What happened? Did you call them?” Cade zipped up his gym bag and ambled from the locker room.

“I was peeking out the window, of course I didn’t want anyone to know I was home, so I had to keep the blinds drawn, but it looked like they jumped over the hood of a car and tried to stop it, but the driver panicked and almost plowed them down.”

“Anyone get hurt?”

“No, there’s no ambulance. Just a bunch of guys pointing up and down the street, talking to the cops.”

“Then it’s not our business. Don’t let them know you’re home and they’ll probably leave. It isn’t as if there’s anything interesting going on. Has Andie come home?”

“Nope, like I said, there are reporters everywhere. Besides, I just saw the video of Andie kissing Declan at the office. I’m betting she’s not going to want to come home and explain
that
to you.”

“What video?” Cade’s heart jolted to the roof of his mouth. “Is this recent?”

“Pretty recent. Sounds like she’s going to be a costar with Declan on that movie they’re making, and she was celebrating.”

“Celebrating? She didn’t even tell me Declan had signed. Are you sure? Which website?”

“I’ll text it to you. I’m really sorry, Cade. The other day she seemed all happy because she got— Oh, wait, never mind.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” Cade’s nerves sizzled like an egg on hot asphalt.

“Nothing, she said she’d surprise you herself.”

“Surprise me? With kissing pictures? This sucks.” Cade clenched his fist. “Listen, I have to go. I’ve got a baby coming home and I have to get rid of those reporters.”

“Okay, hopefully they’ll leave after they get a picture of the baby coming home.” His mother didn’t sound convinced. “See you soon.”

“You too.” He hung up and texted Andie,
Are you finished with work? We need to talk. Want to come to the hospital with me to pick up Bret?

Even with the news of the latest kissing video, he wanted to keep his promise to open up and talk to her. Maybe she could explain it, or it was part of the publicity stunt for her new movie role. But why hadn’t she told him? He’d give her a chance to explain before flying off the handle.

By the time he got to his car, she still hadn’t replied.

Either feeling guilty, or trying to come up with a story. Cade didn’t want to push and text her again, so he got into his car and drove toward home.

Sure enough, two police squad cars, a news van, and a group of reporters blocked the way to his house.

Cade lowered the window as an officer walked up. “Glad you’re here, Officer. These people are trespassing and I’d like to get into my home.”

The policeman propped his hand on Cade’s Porsche and lowered himself so his face was level with the window. “We’re investigating a hit and run with a vehicle belonging to you.”

“Me? I’ve been out all day at the stadium.”

“You’ve a Chrysler 200? Personalized license plate GOFLASH?”

Cade’s stomach dropped. That was the car he’d lent Andie now that she no longer needed a driver.

“Yes, but what’s that got to do with all the reporters staked out on my property?”

“The vehicle was involved in a hit and run right over there.” The officer pointed to the sidewalk in front of his neighbor’s house.

“Wait, let me see.” Cade unlatched his door and the officer pulled it open. “Anyone hurt?”

“Nope, but she knocked down the cameraman and ran over his video equipment.” The officer led Cade to a pile of debris. “See the tire marks over the grass right there?”

“Yeah. Sure. So, no one’s hurt. What do you want with me?”

“The name of the person who was driving the car and whether you authorized it or not. If not, we’ll report it stolen and put out an APB on it.”

The reporters who’d been hovering around shouted. “Was the driver the same woman you took to the Hollywood Cemetery? The redhead?”

“What’s her name? Where’s the mother of your baby?”

“What does the paternity test say? Is the baby coming home?”

Cade drew the officer aside. “I’ll answer your questions down at the precinct, not in front of these vultures. In the meantime, please clear them from my property or arrest them for trespassing.”

“Fine, have it your way.” The officer spoke into his shoulder mic, asking his partner to clear the property. “Follow me.”

Cade got in his car and called Andie. She didn’t pick up so he left voicemail. “Andie, where are you? Policeman says you’re involved in a hit and run. What’s going on? Let me know.”

Then he called his mother. “I’ll be back after talking to the police. They’re getting rid of the reporters.”

“Sure, Roxanne called. She’s waiting for us. Have you gotten your blood drawn for the paternity test yet?”

“I’ll do that tonight, but I’m pretty sure Bret’s mine. You even said how much he looks like me when I was a baby, well, without the cleft palate, of course.”

“Cade, you were a beautiful baby. I mean it.” His mother’s voice was choked. “Thanks for letting me be a part of this. Thank you so much.”

“Same here. Thanks.”

His mother and he had never been close until they found out Roxanne was pregnant. Perhaps, she wanted a second chance with her grandson, or maybe she regretted leaving him to foster care, but for whatever reason, this unplanned pregnancy had turned out to be the biggest blessing besides meeting Andie. It had brought his mother back to him.

Cade switched on the ignition and followed the police down the hill. Whatever trouble Andie was in, he’d pay for the damages. She must have panicked when the hordes of reporters had descended on her.

His heart ached at her betrayal. She’d sounded so sincere when she’d said she loved him. But was he surprised? Not really. It was the sorry story of his life—to be left as soon as he’d thought he found love.

# # #

Andie’s eyes popped back and forth between the rear view mirror and the windshield. The cops hadn’t chased her, and she was on an interstate heading east. She didn’t know where she’d go, only that she couldn’t go back to Cade’s.

Her phone had beeped with incoming text messages and voicemail, but she couldn’t violate the law in California against using cell phones while driving. It was probably Leroy checking up on her. Of course, it could be Cade, but he was supposed to pick up his baby from the hospital.

She took a deep breath and blinked. No matter what, she’d never be Bret’s mother, and even though Cade had tried to include her at the hospital, she felt strange holding the baby while his mother looked on.

Face it. Roxanne would always be tied to Cade because of Bret, whereas she had only the ruby red slipper charm.

Nope. She couldn’t face any of them now that her face had been plastered all over the internet as the slut who sucked off Cade.

Besides, when she filed her divorce papers this morning, the clerk had told her it wouldn’t be finalized for six months. She’d still be married to Declan during all of the work on the King David series. Day after day, rehearsing and shooting the takes with him would be awkward.

Then night after night, sleeping in Cade’s bed while still married to Declan? No wonder the reporters had staked out Cade’s place. They wanted to catch her and humiliate her. Call her a slut and adulteress and disturb the peace at Cade’s house. With her around, the media circus would continue, and Cade’s baby would never get any sleep.

No way could she go back now. It was time to lay low and wait. She could hide out in a small town, wait tables or work at a library. Wait until everyone had forgotten about her and Cade. Wait for her divorce to be finalized.

Wait and see if Cade and Roxanne would get together and make a family for Bret. She was the interloper, ruining his perfect family. Maybe if she stepped out of the picture, Cade and Roxanne would make a go for it and they could live happily ever after.

She glanced at her cell phone. She had a message and a missed call from Cade. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she longed to hear his voice.

Swiping the screen, she read the text message first. He was going to pick up the baby and wanted to know if she’d come along.

“I can’t,” she spoke to herself. “I can’t ruin your evening, with reporters hounding us.”

She checked the voicemail, and her heart sped up into a frenzy. She was wanted for a hit and run? Had someone been hurt after all?

Should she turn herself in? Were they after her? The license plate was too obvious, a personalized one.

Darn it. She’d have to ditch his car and take the bus. How much cash did she have on her? She had no clothes other than what she was wearing and no toiletries. Not even her dog, Gollie.

Another message popped up on the notification area of her phone. She fumbled with her phone to swipe it open and read it. A horn blared and tires screeched as the truck on her right swerved into her lane.

A loud metallic thud jerked the steering wheel from her hands, and she was spinning to the shrieking of tires and the crunching sound of metal while a cloud of white punched her in the face, throwing her up, down, over and out.